Apparatus for elevating and tilting objects



Nov. 22, 1955 c. M. PHEBUS APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING AND TIL-TING OBJECTS Filed July 14, 1952 1 w WM 5 E. K 2 WM Wm \5 M 4A5 6%, w H w fl U Q g m J m United States Patent ELEVATING AND TILTING onnscrs Carey MrPhebus, Millbrae, Calif., assignor of one-half to Douglas S. Manuel, Orinda, Calif.

Application July 14, 1952, Serial No, 298,716

3 Claims. (Cl. 214-672) APPARATUS FOR This, invention relates to mechanisms for handling heavy objects, and is particularly directed towards an apparatus for selectively raising or lowering ;of such objects and for moving the same from avertical position to a position angularly related thereto.

The art of handling heavy objects without undue manual effort is by no meansa new one. Thousands of yearsago, man invented the lever, wheel, and other devices to assist him in raising ,or moving large weights. Throughout the years, numerous developments, particularly in the power-actuated type of lift mechanisms,

have becn made, and at the presenttime, devices such requiring a transfer of the object from the lift to a vehicle and thence back to a lift before the move is completed. ,A further shortcoming resides in the fact thatthe majority of present day lift mechanisms do not firmly engage the objects being lifted, and it is not too uncommon forthe objects to be accidentally dislodged therefromqwith the attendant danger of breakage or per sonnel injury.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for the selective raising or loweringfof heavy objects, which may be produced at a low cost, and which may be conveniently operated by a single person having no particular skill or training.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatusfof the character described which may be manually operated, but without undue physical exertion on the part ofthe person handling the same.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide apparatus of the above type which may readily be secured to a car or other vehicle for transporting the object for considerable distances.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an article, handling apparatus which may alternately be utilized for raisingor lowering the article, and for tilting the article to an inclined position for ease and safety in moving the article between two different locations,

by use of the same actuating mechanism.

The, invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will i be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of my invention with the article-supporting member shown in its tilted position in full lines, and in its vertical position in dot-dash lines.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantial- 1y in the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the cranking mechanism.

As hereinabove stated, the apparatus of the present invention is designed to handle heavy objects, while still being sufiiciently compact to permit its attachment to a vehicle for transporting the apparatus with or without an object thereon for considerable distances. Accordingly, the apparatus is supported on. a pair of longitudinally extending horizontally disposed frame members 11, suitably braced by transverse frame members 12 welded or otherwise secured thereto. To support such frame members above the ground for moving the same, a pair of wheels 13 are utilized, such wheels being disposed adjacent the rear end of the unit and mounted on an axle 14 which may be journalled in leaf elements 16 having the distal ends thereof mounted onbrackets 17 secured to portion of frame members 11. The front end of the unit is provided. with converging structural elements 18 secured to the respective members 11 and terminating in a hitch 19, by means of which the device maybe pulled by a suitable vehicle.

Mounted on said frame members adjacent the rear end of the unit area pair of spaced rail elements 21, which are preferably formed from channel members, and are disposed above each frame member 11 with the flanges 22 thereof directed inwardly and in opposed relation. For supporting the rails 21 on the frame, each rail is provided with a plate-like bracket 23 suitably secured, as by welding, to the outer web 24 of the rail. An angular bracket 26 is secured to each of the members 11, and the vertically disposed flange 27 thereof includes an aperture 28, in which a shaft 29 is suitably journalled. It will be noted that brackets 23 are likewise provided with apertures 31 similarly journalled on shaft 29. In this manner, the vertically and hori zontally fixed shaft 29 pivotally supports the rails 21 relative to the frame.

Arranged for longitudinal movement along rails 21 is a carriage 36 which includes at one end thereof, an article-supporting fork or arms 37 extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the rails. Such arms 37 are preferably of angle construction and are secured toa pair of elements 38, disposed adjacent each of the rails 21. Elements 38 are reinforced by transverse brace members 39 which are secured to channel members 41, the latter being provided with apertures 42 for receiving pins or bolts43. As best seen in Figure 3, a roller 44 is journalled on each of the pins 38, with the rollers being disposed between the flanges 22 of rails 21. In this manner, carriage 36 may be readily moved along rails 21.

Means are provided for effecting movement of the carriage along the rails, which may include a drum 47 having stub shafts 48 at the ends thereof which are journalled in a pair of transversely spaced brackets 49 secured to rails 11. The drum is arranged for rotatable movement about its axis and adjacent each end of the same I secure one end of a length of cable 51 which then engages one wheel of a double pulley 52 journalled on the end of carriage 36, from which the cable extends along the rail to have the other end thereof engaged with a single pulley 53' journalled. on the rail elementsll. The .cablethen returns to the other wheel of pulley 52 to which it is secured. In this manner, the carriage 36 may be moved along the rails whether the railsare in'eith'e'r ef th'e' positions suggested in Figure 1.

Before discussing the details ot'the cranking mechanism for rotating drum 47, it will .be recalled that the apparatus is arranged to raise and lower anar'ticl'e supported on arms .37 in a vertical direction, as well :as to effect tilting of the object when the latter is to be. moved between horizontally spacedposi-ti'ons. Accordingly, it will be seen that I provide an:aperture:=61 in bracket 26 arranged to slidably'receive a :pin;-62 which forconvenience may be attached toa "chain63secured to such bracket. Rail bracket 23 is provided with a similar aperture 64, and as will be clear, with the rails in their vertical position, as indicated in dash-dot lines in Figure 1, with pin 62 engaging both'of the apertures 61 and 64, tilting movement of the rails (and consequently the carriage) relative to the frame. members vand around shaft 29 will be prevented. Thus, in this condition, rotation of drum 47 will serve only to raise and lower the carriage so as to elevate or lower an object carried-thereon.

Now, if it is desired to effect a tiltingrnotion, without imparting relative longitudinal movement of the carriage along rails 21, the pin 62 may be inserted in anaperture 66 formed in web 24 of rail 21 and likewise through an aperture 6'7 of a boss 68 welded to theouter web portion of carriage channel member 41, the latter being provided with an aperture 69 in alignment with boss'apertu're '67. It is believed clear that with the pinin this position,:rota'- tion of drum 47-will cause therails and carriage, as well as the articlethat may be supported on the latter, to pivot about shaft 29 to the tilted position shown in solid lines in Figure 1. At this position of angular inclination, stop means are provided .to prevent further downward tilting, and such means may include a pair of angula'rly related prop members 71 and 72 secured to each side of the frame members and welded together at their point of intersection. The upper portion of members 72 will engage and intercept the rails 21 as the latter are pivoted about shaft 29 thereby providing a limit to the tilting thereof.

With the foregoing explanation, the operation of the device will be easily understood. The carriage is first positioned as indicated in dot-dash lines in Figure l, with arms 37 disposed at ground level and pin 62 engaged in apertures 61 and 64. The article to be moved may then be urged onto the then horizontally disposed flanges of arms 37, and by rotating drum 47 in one direction, the

carriage will be vertically raised until the carriage apertures 67 and 69 are aligned with rail aperture 66, which incidentally may be reinforced .by an apertured boss 73. At this time, pin 62 may be withdrawn from apertures 61 and 64 and passed through apertures 66 and 69. Further rotationof drum 47 in said one direction will cause rails 21 and the carriage mounted thereon to rock about shaft 29 until the rails and carriage assume the solid line position of Figure 1, with the lower surfaces of the rails supported on prop members 72. Thesupported article may then be safely hauled over considerable distances.

To replace the article on the ground, the foregoing process is reversed, and the drum 47 is rotated in the other direction. The location of shaft 29 is so positioned that the article weight will normally urge the rails to their vertical position, and hence, by unwinding of the cable, the rails and carriage will be pivoted to their vertical disposition. At such time, pin62 may be withdrawn from the rail and carriage apertures and reinserted in the apertures 61 and 64, and rotation of the drum will then affect lowering or raising of the carriage, depending on the final desired elevation of the article.

To control the rotation of drum 47, adjacent one end of the latter, I secure a sprocket 81 which engages a chain '82 driven 'by'a'drive'sprocket83. Drive sprocket 83 is carried at one end of a shaft 84 whose other end .isproand mounted on shaft 84, is a ratchet-wheel 92 whose teeth are engaged by a pawl 93, pivotally mounted on a shaft 94, and provided with an angularly disposed arm 96 whose distal end is secured to a tension spring 97 mounted on the bracket. While this arrangement will permit rotation of the shaft 84, and consequently of drum 47 in either direction, the weight of the supported article will not cause accidental and rapid rotation thereof.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that a simple and inexpensive unit has been provided for moving objects, and which is capable of attachment to 'conventional vehicles for transporting such objects in a safe condition for considerable distances and then unloading the same at the termination of the trip.

I claim:

l. Article-handling apparatus including a horizontally disposed support frame arranged for movement over the ground, a rail member disposed adjacent each side of said frame adjacent the rear end of the latter, means pivotally mounting said rail members to said frame, means defining an aperture in one of said rail members, means defining an aperture in said support and aligned with said rail member aperture when said rail members are in a vertical position, a pin insertible in said apertures for locking said rail members against pivotal movement, an articleesupporting unit including a plurality of rollers engageable with said rail members, a drum mounted for rotation on said frame, pulley means adjacent the distal ends of said rail members, cable elements mounted on said drum and engageable with said pulley means and secured to said unit, means for rotating said drum, and

means for releasably securing said unit against movement relative to said rail members whereby said pulley r'neans and cable elements may be selectively used for moving saidunit along said rail members and for tilting both the rail members and unit.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which hitch means are provided adjacent the front end of said frame whereby the latter may be pulled and pushed over the ground, and rotatable wheels journalled on said frame.

3. Apparatus of the character described including a support frame, spaced brackets secured to said frame, a pair of rail members disposed adjacent spaced portions of said frame, a bracket secured to each of said rail members, means defining aligned apertures in said brackets, a shaft engaged in said apertures whereby said rail members may be pivotally mounted on said frames, means defining second apertures on one of said frame bracketsand one of said rail brackets being axially aligned when said rail membersv are in a vertical position, pin means releasably engageable with said aligned apertures, a carriage mounted for longitudinal'movement along said rail members, one of said rail members and said carriage each having an aperture therein respectively alignable in one position of the carriage on the rail members whereby a pin may be inserted therethroughv for locking said car'- riage against movement relative to said rail members,

" and means for moving said carriage along said rail members when said rail members are secured in a vertical position and for tilting said rail members and carriage about said shaft when said carriage is locked against movement relative to said rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,289,786 Ittner Dec. 31, 1918 (Esther references on following page) Shaft 84 is journalled in a bracket 87' 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,339,020 Le Tourneau Jan. 11, 1944 1,297,486 Murray Mar. 18, 1919 2,354,337 Smith July 25, 1944 1,429,004 w Sept 12 192 2,377,339 Waters June 1945 1,355,0 3 Remda APR 19 19 2,605,576 Dempstel 1952 2 203 954 Weiss July 23, 19 5 2,513,827 Van 130M116 1952 2,234,513 Zimicki Man 11 1 2,652,164 PP P 1953 

